Objectives and outcomes
The aim of the course is to acquire the knowledge about: the characteristics of optical transmission; architecture
and characteristics of optical components, optical fibre information transmission characteristics;
architecture and characteristics of access, metro and core optical networks; principles of design and
modelling of optical networks and systems. Upon completion of the course, students have a knowledge of
the principles, characteristics and concepts related to the transmission of information through optical
fibres, characteristics and architecture of optical components. They gain knowledge of characteristics and architecture of different
optical transmission systems, integration of optical networks and systems with other technologies, design
and modelling of optical systems. They can independently analyse and integrate optical
components into various network scenarios. Furthermore, they analyse the performance of a system
containing various optical components, and design an optical system based on defined requirements, as
well as all necessary components and their characteristics.
Lectures
Characteristics of optical fibres (description, transmission characteristics, wavelengths, chromatic
dispersion, polarisation mode dispersion), dispersion, losses in optical fibres, nonlinear optical effects.
Optical transmitters – LED diodes, semiconductor lasers, mode control , transmitter architecture. Optical
receivers – standard photodetectors, receiver design, receiver noise, receiver sensitivity, sensitivity
decrease, receiver performance. Multi-channel systems, WDM Lightwave systems, WDM components,
WDM system performance. Time-division multiplexing systems (TDMA), carrier multiplexing, orthogonal
frequency division multiplexing (OFDM). Code-division multiplexing (CDMA), coherent systems,
modulations, polarisation. BER and receiver sensitivity, system performance, optical transmission
technologies. Optical networks, access networks, metro networks, core networks, methodologies for
optical network design. Requirements analysis and definition of transmission parameters. odelling of
optical systems.
Research work
Design of optical components based on defined requirements, selection of transmission systems and
definition of transmission parameters in real conditions. Component modelling. Analysis of requirements
defined within the case study – analysis of requirements and environment. Selection of design tools and
design methodologies. System modelling. Design of various optical systems based on defined
requirements. Analysis of options for integration of optical systems with other technologies and types of
networks.